Teenager Mendy to be youngest Prizefighter ever

16/06/2010

CONFIDENT Maidenhead fighter says victory on June 30 is the start of something big

Patrick Mendy will become the youngest fighter in Prizefighter history when he boxes in the super-middleweights event on June 30 at York Hall, Bethnal Green – the start of a journey he says will take him to a world title.

The 19 year-old from Maidenhead has been tipped for big things and got the call up for the latest of Barry Hearn's eight-man, one night tournaments live on Sky Sports as he travelled to spar with European, British and Commonwealth title holder Nathan Cleverly – great preparation for the hotly-tipped teenager.

"I was on my way [to Wales] when I got the call and I'm so excited to get into Prizefighter and believe me, I am the best fighter in the line-up," said Mendy, known as 'The Tiger'. "I train right all the time in the gym and I'm working even harder to be at my peak in two weeks time. I've done speed work every day since getting that call and it's going really well.

"It's going to be a great night, the biggest of my career so far and I am very confident that I will win," said the Maidenhead man. "My fights on the night are going to be explosive and the fans will love it, it will be the best night of boxing they will have ever seen because I'm in the ring."

Mendy has nine fights under his belt since turning pro with five wins and four losses, all on points, including a defeat to great Scottish 2006 Commonwealth gold medallist Kenny Anderson in his last outing in March – but he claims that his record does not reflect his performances in all his fights, and that he could have easily been going into the night unbeaten.

"My record says four defeats but if you saw the fights you would say I won," said Mendy. "I took the fight against Anderson with three days notice and anyone there would say that I won that fight so my record means little.

"It is great for Maidenhead that I am fighting in Prizefighter," he added. "I do a lot of work in the community with kids, getting them off the streets and into the gym learning. It's really important to me and I'm fighting for them and for the area at York Hall."

Mendy's path to the top is being led by experienced manager Jim Evans, who is confident he has one of the next big things on his hands and compared him at his age to former Amateur star Errol Christie – and says he has the added element to take him all the way.

"He's the best 19 year-old I've seen since Errol," said Evans. "The thing about Patrick is he has that little bit of arrogance that all top athletes have to have. I've got 30 fighters and he walks with all of them – he spars with Michael Sprott and handles him well and I'm certain he'll come out on top at Prizefighter."

With a winner's cheque of £32,000 up for grabs, the financial gains are vast, but Mendy is focused on making this first step to the peak of boxing.

"I live for boxing and my mission is clear – to become a World Champion and I will achieve it, and that journey can start at Prizefighter," said Mendy.

Tickets for Prizefighter Super Middleweights are available now at £35 (unreserved), £60 (ringside) and £100 (VIP) – call Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.